Today is the 63rd day that residents of Palm Beach County commission District 7 have gone without a commissioner. Former commissioner Addie Greene’s last day was April 30. She cited health concerns in stepping down.

Gov. Charlie Crist will appoint a replacement to fill Greene’s seat through November 2010. He has interviewed four finalists for the job: Riviera Beach Councilwoman Billie Brooks, retired educator Vincent Goodman, businessman Randy Johnson and state Rep. Priscilla Taylor, D-West Palm Beach.

It took Crist 64 days to name a replacement for former commissioner Mary McCarty, who resigned Jan. 8 under a federal corruption probe. Crist named Steven Abrams to the seat on March 13.

In 2007, when Warren Newell resigned from the commission under a federal corruption probe, Crist needed 31 days to name Bob Kanjian as his replacement.

While Greene’s seat has been vacant for nine weeks, she announced her intention to resign in early March and Crist interviewed the four finalists in April.

Delray Beach City Commissioner Mack Bernard announced today he’s running for the state House District 84 seat of Rep. Priscilla Taylor, D-West Palm Beach, now that Taylor has announced she’s running for Palm Beach County commission in 2010.

Former state Rep. James Henry “Hank” Harper Jr. and Riviera Beach Councilman Cedrick Thomas say they’re also interested in Taylor’s seat. Riviera Beach Councilman Shelby Lowe says a state House run is a possibility for him.

Don’t be surprised if more names emerge.

Bernard and all the potential candidates are Democrats. Dems hold roughly a 4-to-1 registration edge in Taylor’s district.

Democratic state Rep. Priscilla Taylor, one of four finalists for the gubernatorial appointment to fill a Palm Beach County commission vacancy, will make “a significant announcement regarding her political plans for 2010″ at a news conference Thursday at the county governmental center, according to an e-mail from her political consultant.

Gov. Charlie Crist does not expect to announce an appointment this week, said Eric Eikenberg, the governor’s chief of staff. Crist has interviewed Taylor, businessman Randy Johnson, Riviera Beach Councilwoman Billie Brooks and retired educator Vincent Goodman for the seat.

Regardless of whom Crist appoints, the commission seat will be on the ballot next year, so it’s possible Taylor will announce the opening a 2010 campaign.

Taylor wasn’t immediately reachable this afternoon.

Stay tuned.

Gov. Charlie Crist will interview four finalists next week to replace Palm Beach County Commissioner Addie Greene, who’s stepping down April 30 for health reasons.

Click here to find out who’s in the running.

State Rep. Priscilla Taylor, D-West Palm Beach, is willing to give up her state House seat to represent Palm Beach County commission District 7 when Addie Greene steps down April 30.

Taylor is one of at least 11 applicants who have filled out paperwork with Gov. Charlie Crist’s appointments office. Former Boynton Beach Vice Mayor Henderson TIllman has applied, as have four people who applied for the District 4 appointment that Crist just filled with former Boca Raton mayor Steven Abrams.

Read about it here.

Palm Beach County Commissioner Addie Greene discussed her possible resignation with Gov. Charlie Crist this morning and says she will announce her plans by the end of this week.

Greene, who said she is considering stepping down because of health concerns, described her 10- to 15-minute meeting with Crist in Tallahassee as “wonderful.”

Crist would name a replacement if Greene steps down. Greene, a Democrat and the only black county commissioner, wants the Republican governor to name a black Democrat to fill the seat if she leaves. State Rep. Priscilla Taylor, D-West Palm Beach, said Greene has talked to her about the possibility stepping down and having Taylor replace her on the commission.

Taylor said she probably would apply for the vacancy if Greene resigns, but stressed that the decision would be up to Crist.

If she resigns, Greene is entitled to a lump-sum retirement payment of more than $300,000 and an annual pension of more than $53,000, according to state retirement administrators. Greene, 66, has been part of the state retirement system more than 37 years. She was a teacher and state House member before getting elected to the commission in 2000.

If Palm Beach County Commissioner Addie Greene decides to resign for health reasons, knowledgeable sources say she wants assurances that Gov. Charlie Crist will choose state Rep. Priscilla Taylor, D-West Palm Beach, or another black Democrat to fill her seat in heavily Democratic, minority-dominated District 7.

The Palm Beach Post‘s editorial board this morning says Crist shouldn’t allow Greene to “anoint” her successor.

Palm Beach County Commissioner Addie Greene, who’s considering resigning because of health concerns, is heading to Tallahassee today for the county’s annual day of lobbying state lawmakers.

If Greene decides to step down, Gov. Charlie Crist will appoint a replacement.

Knowledgeable sources say Greene, a Democrat who is the only black member of the commission, wants assurances that, if she resigns, her replacement will be another black Democrat. She has talked to state Rep. Priscilla Taylor, D-West Palm Beach, about the possibility of Taylor succeeding her on the commission.

Greene’s District 7 is 63.5 percent Democrat and 15.9 percent Republican. Voters are 48.4 percent black, 5.4 percent Hispanic and 40.1 percent white.

Will Greene try to get in a word with Crist while she’s in town? Greene wasn’t commenting Monday and Crist’s office said it had no record of any scheduled meetings with Greene.